“9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” NIV

Reading through the opening section of 1 Peter (verses 1-12), it becomes obvious, by its repetition, that ‘’salvation’’ is a dominant theme. What also is clear is that ‘’salvation’’ is a process. In today’s verse we read:

‘’…for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.’’ (NB – this is something currently happening, in ‘the now).

A few days ago we read: ‘’…the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time’’ (5b). So there is still a future dimension to this process. We await the final stage, the full picture – the last piece of the puzzle to be fitted in.

In verse 10, Peter refers to ‘’this salvation’’, and from what he goes on to write (11) we find that the death and resurrection of Jesus lie at its heart. Jesus died and rose again to save lost, sinful people.

Salvation – God’s work of saving (rescuing) – is a process. A believer can say:

  • ‘I have been saved’ (from the penalty of sin. This happened instantaneously at conversion);
  • ‘I am being saved’ (every moment, from the power of sin);
  • ‘I will be saved’ (one day, from the very presence of sin)

We live ‘between the times’; we are caught in the tension between the ‘now’ and the ‘not yet’. Each Christian is a work in progress. As someone said, ‘I’m not what I want to be, and I’m not what I’m going to be, but praise God, I’m not what I was!’

A hymn captures this idea in saying, ‘Jesus saves me all the time, Jesus saves me now.’

PRAYER: Lord, it fills me with joy and wonder to remember the time I was saved. What a day that was, when I repented of my sins and put my faith in you. But I confess I need your saving power today, and how grateful I am to have it. There is so much in me that still need to change. I mourn and grieve over my all too many faults. By your power, Lord Jesus, please save me from them all. I look forward to that day when seeing you I shall be like you. What a day that will be!